Overview & Reviews

There are affordable cars, and then there are cars that offer thrilling performance. Rarely do the two ever converge, but Japanese automaker Mazda has made it a tradition of coming up with vehicles that combine both of these eminently desirable traits.

The Toyo Cork Kogyo Company, founded in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan, used the name "Mazda" for its first three-wheeled truck, built in 1931. Company founder Jujiro Matsuda chose the word "Mazda" because it was the name of the Zoroastrian god of good and light. Work on a small sedan began in the late 1930s, but development was halted so the company could pitch in with Japan's war effort. In the wake of World War II and the rebuilding that followed, the company refocused its efforts on car development and manufacturing.

By 1960, the first Mazda automobile -- the R360 coupe -- was developed, and the company's foray into the production of passenger vehicles began in full force. Other landmark developments were soon to follow. In 1961, the company entered into a technical partnership with NSU and Wankel to develop and produce rotary engines, a union that led to Mazda's distinguishing itself as the only manufacturer to offer three engine configurations: conventional gasoline piston, diesel and rotary. The '60s also saw the introduction of the company's first pickup, the B-Series 1500, as well as its first rotary-engine vehicle, the 110S Cosmo Sport.

Mazda began selling cars in the U.S. in 1970. In the early part of the decade, the automaker rolled out the RX-2. Powered by the noted 12A rotary, the RX-2 introduced America to Mazda's effort to build cars that were affordable and fun to drive. The decade also saw the introduction of the RX-3, RX-4 and now iconic rotary-powered RX-7 sports car. In 1979, Ford Motor Company purchased a 25 percent stake in Mazda after the Japanese company encountered a number of financial difficulties.

The 1980s was a decade of rebirth for Mazda. The company officially took on the Mazda name (though all its vehicles since its launch in the '20s have carried that brand). It also witnessed an upswing in sales sparked by successful new products like the 323 (which was first called the GLC in the American market) and 626. The 1990 model year saw the launch of a car that would prove a huge hit for Mazda: the MX-5 Miata. Lauded for its ultra-responsive handling and affordability, the drop top has been a consistent favorite, and now holds the distinction of being the world's best-selling roadster.

Mazda began the 1990s with a bang by winning Le Mans with the 787B; it was the first time a Japanese automaker had won the prestigious race, and marked the only win for a rotary engine. Vehicles like the RX-7 and MX-5 Miata scored kudos from automotive journalists, and landed on many top 10 lists. However, save for the Miata, the company's vehicles experienced declining sales in the U.S., and the company's fortunes suffered as a result.

The new millennium has seen Mazda regain its stride, as the automaker has invested in new development. Models like the Mazda 2 and CX-9 have broadened the lineup and won over a whole new generation of fans, while the enthusiast-oriented RX-8 and Mazdaspeed performance models have exemplified the company's spirited philosophy. Most recently, Mazda has focused on designing its cars to be as fuel-efficient as possible while also still being fun to drive and affordable to own.

User Reviews:

• 

  I love my Mazda3 - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By Jess - June 28 - 11:36 am

  I decided to buy myself a birthday gift in 2005 and got this car. It had all of the features I wanted and is the best looking hatchback on the market. It is so much fun to drive and has never had a single mechanical issue in 2.5 years! I will drive this car for many many years, even if I could afford a higher performance vehicle. I mean it isnt as much fun to drive as a Lotus Exige S, but for a hatch that can easily fit snowboards (and a bunch of furniture from Ikea) it is the best option!

• 

  99 Miata - 2002 Mazda MX-5 Miata
  By Miata_man - June 28 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a new Miata 3 years ago and, overall, I love the car. Its a blast to drive and handles very well. I understand that they added a six speed transmission, which it badly needs. Some minor issues with the car would be loss of power when the air conditioner is on and a rattle that occurs sometimes in the gear shift. Things that should be expected with this car are a small trunk and a lot of road noise at high speeds.

• 

  Zoom-aoom-zoom--Its all true!!! - 2002 Mazda Tribute
  By Souplady - June 28 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Tribute in April 2001 and it was love at first sight and has been ever since. It is an almost perfect car/SUV. It is fun to drive, fun to look at and fun to own. Lots of people seem to notice my car when I am driving it. I did a tremendous amount of research on SUVs before buying this car and was very pleased that I was able to find one at a reasonable price. It has a lot of get up and go and yet lots of room for all your stuff. I have had my car over a year and except for oil changes, the car has not given me one bit of trouble, not one!! Go for it---zoom, zoom, zoom!!!

• 

  Its what I wanted! - 2004 Mazda RX-8
  By Color Black - June 28 - 2:03 am

  I researched this car for 3/4 months prior to my purchase. It was hard, but I finally got the price I wanted. The car is great! You have know idea how fast you are actually driving till you look at the odometer-45-60-90-108 mph all feels the same. Be ready for the looks you will get in this car.

• 

  I love my CX9! - 2007 Mazda CX-9
  By JJ - June 28 - 2:03 am

  I traded in my BMW 3-series because it was giving me nothing but problems. As much as I love European cars, I just could not deal with the constant repairs once my car hit the 80,000 mile mark. I decided to trade my car in since it was still in good condition (after all repairs), now was the time! I was leaning towards getting a Lexus or Infiniti SUV, but noticed the Mazda. I am so happy that I got the CX-9 because it was thousands cheaper and still fully loaded. I love the 19-inch stock rims, dual exhaust chrome pipes, the interior is so spacious, and I feel so safe. This car is a great combo of the 2 SUVs I originally wanted to, so now I have the best of both worlds...but even better!

• 

  running great and fun to drive - 2005 Mazda Mazda3
  By adam - June 27 - 11:53 am

  I bought my Mazda in March 05 and now have 33K on it. I havent had a single problem. Only routine maintenance. It drives great and is fun to drive.

• 

  Good for 30,000, then all heck breaks loose - 2011 Mazda Mazda3
  By lunaris - June 27 - 10:08 am

  I dont generally review cars, but my experience with this vehicle was so horrible that I felt motivated to counter some of the shameless praise the Mazda 3 receives on this website. To put it bluntly, my Mazda 3 was a troubled vehicle. It was loud from the first day (I knew it would be), but the noise level rose as time passed. The tires wore down very quickly, and were extremely expensive to replace. But, what ultimately killed me was the clutch. Just over 41k miles, the clutch began acting up. I know a fair bit about cars and realized what it was immediately. Come to find that the clutch is a chronic issue for this car -- with many failing far earlier. And even at 15 or 18k, Mazda...

• 

  Still Perfect - 2009 Mazda Mazda6
  By danalube - June 27 - 9:22 am

  I bought this car new and have racked up about 60,000 miles. Most of those miles were in Florida. The A/C kept my dark car and dark interior very cool. I do have window tint, which helps. In Summer 2011, I drove it from Tampa to Seattle. The cross country drive was very comfortable and problem free. The stereo with Sirius/XM has decent sound and the nav system got me to my new home with no problems either. All Ive done to it so far is oil changes and tire rotations. New tires are going on this year. The only thing that I would improve on this car is the handling and better brakes. Previous car was an RX-8. I got spoiled with the brakes and handling on it.

• 

  Excellent - 2007 Mazda Mazda3
  By mazdaspeedfreak - June 27 - 4:43 am

  This car has the best looks, performance, reliability for its price.

• 

  Very happy with the lovely 3 - 2010 Mazda Mazda3
  By ylli - June 26 - 1:22 pm

  I leased this mazda 3 August 2010. I really love the brilliant handling and the comfort seat and ride. Steering is very fast and precise. I guess for the price, you cant find other car in the class with better driving experience. I did do some autocross with this car. Even on all season tire, it can still shine. I also did a few 800 mile journey, it is comfortable enough that I can drive 13 hrs straight in the car. The down side would be so so fuel economy, I normally average 23-24 mpg in town, barely 30 mpg driving on highway. Also the build quality could be slightly improved. My car did develop a slight rattle at the back of the car at around 5000 miles. Overall, i am very happy.